Ergonomic Design of a Walking Tractor Handle

Abstract

This study was conducted to establish design parameters for a walking tractor handle that would cause minimal stress on the operator. Specifically, the muscular electric spark characteristics of operators were observed using surface EMG and analyzed in relation to different bodily postures and walking tractor handle specifications.
Analysis of muscular electric spark characteristics of operators during load handling showed that a downward arm-forearm position is more advantageous, in terms of minimizing muscular stress.
Changing the leg positions also had slight and intense effects on the muscular electric sparks at 0 to 30°and 30 to 50° leg angles, respectively.
As for the handle specification, the 35mm diameter handle consistently recorded the least percent increase in muscular electric spark curve integral. Furthermore, the 650 and 800mm handle elevations resulted in significantly lower muscular electric spark increases as compared to the 950mm handle elevation. Shifting from maximum to minimum handle angles resulted in 6-33% lower percent increase in muscular electric spark intensities at 580 and 620mm handle widths.